Electrical contact plug receptacle



Feb. 4, 1941.

J. S. STULL ELECTRICAL "/CONTACT PLUG RECEPTACLE a 1 l www@ v @m5 m m #n \mm. .om mm m mh/ l. m3 j .uw rf. Il mulnMhxmM/WH u .V m o m s 2 L. 6V 5?@ .llln. .ulllllhllll Il u m f g :n Kili-: .mh w.\ ---,-lii .Q N10. y um mv l m ...fum n... .n mm mm mm. o@

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Feb. 4, 1941. "5TU| L ELECTRICAL CONTACT PLUG HECEPTACLE Filed .July 18, 193s 5 MN\ C@ Oh NN l ON om www om S @d @Nm nm m/ S mm l @m g `/n.l,|d Qi f a I. IIIII 1.| m \\Av f/ A Q @MV mm vm. ow mm n m. t .n om ,mm mmv m@ Nvb Q ffwHV. Qm

have trical circuit at a pluralityof points along eachl the insulatorstrip tomove it rearward against l e o upper and .lowerwalls Vof the slot, the extensum terminating n n, oppositeiy directed right Patented Feb. 4, 1941 f UNIT!)"..Sv'nsfT OFFICE This invention relates to electrical contact plug receptacles andmore particularly to afcontinu'- ous strip type electrical receptacle adapted to particular electrical contact thereto throughout `its length. i

'plugs connected vAnobject' of this invention is 'to provide ,a continuous strip type electrical contact plug-` receptacle, which is of'simplejinexpensiveand durablev construction and practical and eiiicient for purposes for which itis intended.

a base board extending around a room, whereby L electrical appliances may beconnected to an elecside of the room. One embodiment of the in- `vention comprisesan elongated metal housing Vhaving a continuous horizontalslot in its front ductor bar which is bare for elect rical conduction along its` rear face.v .I oosely fitted ,within the of the inserts is; a continuous insulator strip serving to close the l housing between horizontal arms slot in the front *housing* wall except adjacent.`

by'a bowed continuous strip spring,

of which engage the rear housing ductor bars maybe connected to wall. The, conappliance by afcontact plug `having oppositely extending contact prongs whic'hvare hook shaped at their outer `ends,'the prongs of the plugbeing entered in the vhousing slot `and the action of the bowed strip s :y rotated 90 degreesto engage the 45` pressed against prongs with `the conductor, bars. the howed` spring applying pressure against the prongs to maintain` them in kfirm contact with the "conductorlbarsf ,Corner `connecting means is '.provided'ffor joining they.. i yends of receptacles at` corners to continuel the d conductor bars 'electrical circuit, through the conductor .bars at any convenient suitable connector means.

`single current pointV by 'a an electrical.

pring and then.

the rear edges v Other objects and features.;` ofthe invention Fig.3is a y a cover for` an end of the receptacle which is Fig. 1 is a plan sectional view of an electrical contact plug receptacle'embodying the features 5 o! this invention taken on the line I-I of F18. 2 and showing a corner connector,` acombined our@ rent supply source connector and an end cover; Fig. 2 is a front elevation thereof, with a front cover of the current supply'source connector re- 10 moved; Y. t o

front elevation, partly in section, of

spacedfrom the .current supply source connector;

Fig.` 4 is a verticaly section taken on the line 15 4 4 of Fig. 3;

. Fig. 5 is a vertical section through the receptacle with a particular contactplug spaced therefrom with its prongs positioned readyfor insertion in the receptacle and engagement with the 20 o conductor barsfthereofp o Y Fig. 6 is a. similar view of the receptacle with Fig. 7 is a front elevation of 6. Referring now tok the drawings and particularly to Figs. land 5, whereina simple inexpen- 1 sive embodimentfoi the contact plug receptacle 30 j of this invention is shown adapted to be attached to abase board (not shown) extending around the walls of a room, the numeral I0 indicates "an elongated housingof rectangular cross section formed from sheet metal, the housing having 35 top,ibottom and rear walls, Il, `I2and i3, re-

` spectively.` 'I'he housing "I0 is formed with a continuous horizontal slot Il` in its front wall I1 intermediate the top and bottom walls Il and I2,

respectively. Formedintegral with andextend- 40 ing inwardly at right angles from the front wall I1 at eachside of the slot I4 are arms I8 forming angie iipsis. Aitubigh the housingin the pres- 45 ent embodiment `is described as of sheet metal it .lmay be found desirable to use other material `and instead of-forming it fromsheet material :other methods mayV beused, such as by moldof `insulating material having embedded in its entrance of nails or other fastening means to secure the housing IIlfto' the base board, thev alined apertures being accessible through thef continuous slot I4 in the front wall I1 ofthe beyond the lip I9 and the rear face 23 of4 thev conductor 22, the insert extensions 24 serving as spaced stops for opposite portions of a continuous insulator strip 25 which is slidably fitted in the housing between the horizontal arms of the L-shaped inserts 20. Between the opposed inner surfaces of the rear housing wall I3- and ythe insulator strip 25 is a bowed continuous strip spring 2B having its" rear edges engaging under pressure the rear housing wall I3 and the forward crowned surface of the spring pressing l. against the rear surface of the insulator strip.-

Thus, the spring'26 is constantly urging the inulator strip'25 against the continuous stop extensions 24 provided 'on the inserts 20, in which position the insulator strip' serves as a closure member for the entire length of the continuous slot I4 in the front housing wall I1, thereby eifectivelysealing the inside of the housing,which contains the conductor bars 22, from the entrance of dust, water or. other'liquids and also of vforeign metal articles which 'might make contact with the conductor bars. vThe rear wall I3' of the housing I 0, as well asthe strip spring 26 and insulator 25, are formed with aiined apertures 29 arranged at suitable distances apart for the housing. y Y l y To'establish a connection from the conductor I bars 22 at any point 'in' their'length vto an electrical appliance r(not shown) there is provided a particular contact plug 30 (Figs. 5, 6, and 7) corn-l prising an elongated supporting cap or handle 3l of insulating material.` Suitablyattached to the handle3| is a pair ofterminals 32 which are@ connected vat their inner ends, within the han- TheV terminals 32 project through a central outwarddie, to conductorwires 33 of av cable 3 4.

ly'extending portion '33 of the handle 3| which is ofk circular cross-'section vand a diameter which will freely pass into j and be fcapable of rotary motion in the slot I4 ofithe receptacle housing Ill. The periphery of the portion 36 is equipped with an insulated metal sheath to prevent short circuiting betweenthe conductor bars 22`-and ter-` '.,minals 32 when inserting or removing the plug 30. The projecting ends of the terminals 32 are bent at right anglesin'opposite directions and then rearward to form parallel hook-shaped contact prongs 31,"the vend surfaces of which are so shaped and arranged, as indicated at 38 (Fig. 5),

thatthey'may be' moved into contact withthe rear conducting faces 23 of the conductorbars 22, as shown in Fig. Gwith a cam-like action,-

thereby facilitating the insertion and withdrawal of the plug.

To attach the Vcontact plug 30 to the receptacle at the desired point and establish anelectrical connection from the continuous conductor bars 22, to the terminals 32 of the plug, the handle 3| of the plug is first positioned so that the longest dimension thereof extends at right angles to the 4I. '49 by members 53 are a. pair of terminals 54. -.Conductor wires 55 of the gable 48 are connected housing slot I4, as shown in full lines in Fig. 5, in which position the plug terminals 32 will lie parallel to the housing slot, whereupon the plug is moved to enter the central portion 36 thereof into the slot and simultaneously pressing the 'terminals against the outer exposed surface of the continuous insulator strip 25, as shown fragmentarily indotted outlineI in Fig. 5, such pressure being resisted by the bowed continuous strip spring 26. The pressure of the terminals 32 against the insulator strip 25 is preferably continued until a rear surface 39 of the plug 3D comes to a stop against the front wall I1 of the receptacle housing I0. In this position of vthe plug 30 the end surfaces of the hookedshaped contact prongs 31 of the terminals 32 will lie slightly back of the continuous rear extension 24 of the inserts 20 carrying the conductor bars 22. Thereafter the plug handle 3i is rotated degrees to cause thenendI surfaces of the contact prongs 31to lie parallel to the conductor barsv 22 and upon releasing the plug 30 the compressed bowed strip spring 25 acting against the insulator strip 25 which is engaging the contact prongs, will move the plug 30 slightly outwa'rdrandA carry the contacting end` surfaces of the prongs into firm conducting engagement with the conductorvbars 22, as shown in Fig. 6 and the electrical v, connection between the receptacle and the contact plug 30 is completed.

' It will be observed that the positionof the plug 30'in thel receptacle may be readily changed, without detaching it, by merely sliding it along the receptacle. To detach the contact plug 30 from the receptacle inward pressure is again .applied to the plug to preferably move the surface 39 thereof into engagement with the front *.wall jI1 of the housing I0, the kplug thereafter being rotated 90 degrees and'withdrawn.

In the present embodiment of the invention the receptacle, as Vshown in Figs. 1 and 2, is equipped at its lright end with a combined end cover and connector for -joining a current supply source to the conductor bars 22 of the receptacle.

for asuitable distance with a tight iit into position over the end of the receptacle housing I 0. Integrally formed with the rear wall.45 is a split sleeve 41 for receiving and clamping thereto a standard BX cable 48, vwhichmay'be connected to a current supply source. Fitted within. the housing vr4I is-amolded insert 49o! insulating "material which is'secured to the rear wall 45 by a screw 50, whlchalso serves to hold a flanged coverplate 5I forL the openffront of=the housing Secured tothe front surface of the'insert to the terminals 54 by screwsv 56 suitably atx-tached tothe terminals.k The terminals 54 are formed with Vcontact'. prongs 51 which extend Vfrom the insert49 and are yarranged to enter housing I0, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Although the combined end cover and connector is disclosed herein as constructed for association with yone end of the receptacle it will be obvious that it may be constructed at each side of the split soA sleeve 41 with portions for fitting receptacle housings I disposed at opposite ends 'thereof and fitted with pmrs of terminal contact prongs l1 at each end, whereby the receptacle may be connected to the current supply source atany pointv along 'a `wall where found convenient; Also, although the connector dsclosedin Figs.1'and 2 is shown as associated with the right end of a receptacle it may be associated lwith the opposite end thereof by simply turningit around.`

For joining the ends of receptacles atcorners,

. shaped metal housing B'I is providedi as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. `The'housing 6| iszso shapedand dimensiond that it may be fitted over the ends housing, said conductors eachhaving anexposed i of receptacle housings IIl'in the manner of the `l'ionriector housing Il' abovey described; Carried `within the housing 6l I is an` insert 62 of yinsulating material having embedded therein conductor bars 63 terminating at oppositeends in contact 1, `contact plugis i, pressed thereagainst through said opening in'lcontacting prongs of the plug-,with

prongs 64 which extend from the ends of the insert. 'I'he contact prongs are sdaa'ranged that upon joining the ends of the housing ll t'ends of receptacle housings illl the "contact lprongs enter into the spaces 601(Fig."`4)"referredto here-A inbefore and the' electrical Vcircuit is thus coml pleted around the corners ofa room. Each arm of the L,shap`ed housing 6i is provided with an eyelet 65 having"` its ends riveted to opposite walls of the housing-for the entrance of a `screw to`` fasten the housing to the baseboard of the room.

In Figs. 3 and 4 is illustrated a cover for either end of the receptacle housing I0 which is spaced from the current supply source connector. `'Ihe end cover comprises a metal housing 61 having front, top, bottom and end walls 6l, S9. 10 and 1|, respectively, dimensioned and shaped to be slid into position over the end of the receptacle housing I0. Interposed between 'the housings l1 and IU is a U-shaped insulating liningy member 14 having one arm 15 arranged between the inner and outer surfaces of the front walls 68 and I1 of the housings and an opposite parallel arm 16 between the inner surface oi' the rear wall Il of the housing I0 and the bowed strip spring 38,l the latter arm being of such width that it fits between the L-shaped inserts 20. A portion 11 of the insulating lining 14 interconnecting the afrms 15 and 16 thereof abuts andserves to close the open end of the receptacle housing III. The outer end portionof the housing extends outward from the end of the receptacle housing Il and the portion 11 of the insulating lining 14 and is provided in its front wall 68 with an opening for the passage of a screw to fasten it to the 'baseboard ofthe room. For the purpose of loeating the housing v61 on the housing I0 and strengthening the housing 61 at the end of the housing I0, the housing 61 is formed with a right angle inwardly directed lip 18 `struck out of its front wall 68, the lip extending to the plane of the rear surface of the rear wall I3 of the receptacle housing I0.

From the foregoing description it will be observed that a simple, inexpensive and durable continuous strip type electrical contact plug receptacle is provided and the construction is `such that it is fully insulated and thereby is safe to use. A receptacle of this type is very useful in that it permits one or more contact plugs to be `connected thereto at a plurality of positions in its length thereby facilitating the connection `pended claims. v

Yapplied to the baseboard extending horizontally around the walls of a room it maybe used verticallywhereverfound desirable.

It will be` understood that the specicembodiment of thefinvention as herein described and illustrated is to be interpreted as merely illusi trative and that itis capable of other applications and that modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the ap-r What'is claimed is:

l l. In-an electrical contact plug receptacle, a housing having "an opening-extending longitu- `dinally thereof, spaced conductors within, insulatedfrom and extending longitudinally of the surface for electrical conduction, and means movclose saidlopening and adapted to yield when a 9,2. In an electrical contact plugreceptacle, a

, housing .having an opening, `extending longitu- .dinally thereof, insulated conductors within and extending longitudinailyfof the housing at each side of the opening, said conductors each exposed upon a continuous rear surface for electrical conduction, and yieldable means within the housing at the rear of and spaced from said exposed con-` ductor surfaces effective to normally close said opening and adapted to move when a contact plug is pressed thereagainst through said opening in contacting prongs of the plug with the exposed conductor surfaces.

3. In an electrical contact plug receptacle, a housing having an opening extending longitudinally along its front portion, insulating inserts within and extending longitudinally of the housing at opposite sides of said opening, said inserts having portions arranged across opposite housing portions and other portions arranged across the front `housing portion, a conductor supported in the latter portion of each insert and having an exposedsurface for electrical conduction, and yieldable means within the housing arranged to be engaged and moved by a contact plug upon entering the same through said opening in engag'lng prongs of the plug with the exposed surfaces of said conductors, said yieldable means effective thereafter to maintain the prongs in firm contact withv the exposed conductor surfaces.

4. In an electrical contact plug receptacle, a housing having an opening extending longitudinally along its front portion, insulating inserts within and extending longitudinally of the housing at opposite sides of said opening, a conductor supported by each insert and exposed for electrical conduction upon a surface extending parallel to said opening, said exposed conductor surfaces being depressed to lie back of parallel surfaces of the inserts, and yieldable means arranged between said parallel surfaces of the inserts and an innerA surface of the housing, said means effective to normally close said opening and arranged to be engaged and moved by a contact plug entered through said opening in engaging prongs of the plug with the exposed conductor surfaces.

In an electrical contact plug receptacle, a strip type housing'havingv'an opening extending longitudinally thereof, spaced conductors With- Y 'conductor surfaces,y and yieldable means extend. "ing 'along saidstrip arranged between and bearing Yagainst an inner surface-of the housing and said strip effective'to normally press said strip to close said opening, said insulator stripadapted to move when a contact plug is pressed thereagainstl "through said opening in contacting 'prongs of the plug with the exposed conductor surfaces and effective thereafter to maintain the 20 i 'f 'tor surfaces.

prongs 'inl firm contact withthe exposed conduc- 6. In an electrical contact plug receptacle, af

@strip type housing'comprising front, rear', top and bottom Walls, said front` wall having an opening 25 extending longitudinally from endto end thereof, oppositefsicie's of said opening 'being 'formed by Wallsl extending inwardly -fronr and attached to said front wall, vsaidA inwardly extending walls Vterminating in oppositely directed angular continuous arms, insulating inserts iitted between inner surfaces of the front, rear,v topvand bottom walls and said arms at each side of and extending along said opening, a conductor set within each *insert .and continuously exposed upon one surv saidstrip in` contacting prongs of the face for electrical conduction, a. movable insulator. strip fitted within the housing extending along and adapted to normally close said opening,

and a. bowed strip spring extending along said strip arranged-between and bearing against said 'strip and rear wall effective to yield upon pressing a contact plug through said opening and against plug with the exposed. conductor surfaces. f

a 7. In an electrical contact plug receptacle, a housing having an opening extending longitudinally thereof, spaced conductors within, insulated from .and extending longitudinally of the housing, said conductors each having an exposed surface for electrical conduction, yieldable means within the housing effective to normally close said opening and adapted to move when a. contact plug is pressed thereagainst through said opening in contacting prongs of the plug with the exposed conductor surfaces, meansfor connecting a current supply source to said conductors comprising -a casingadapted to be connected to an end of said housing, spaced conductor terminals within and insulated from said casing and at free ends thereof beingv arranged for contact with the exposed surfaces of said conductors upon joining said casing to housing, means attached to said casing for receiving and clamping thereto a current supplysource cable, means for connecting wires of said cable tosaid conductor terminals, a cover adapted to be connected to an end of said housing, and means for insulating the conductors within the housing from the cover.

f l JOHN S. STULL. 

